Page 75 of Hawk's Cry

I give a thumbs-up to Wraith, and make a circle with my finger and thumb, then I crouch down. Moving below window level, I make my way around the back of the house.

I’m counting down in my head. When I get to zero, I kick the back door in, simultaneously hearing a shot from the front of the house.

Drummer’s voice sounds, “Clear.”

I kick another door open. “Clear.”

Four bedrooms all empty. Two baths, one empty and one… well, to say I caught a man with his pants down would be exactly right. A laugh is startled out of me when I see his face. He’s half hovering over the toilet. Seems like I haven’t quite scared the crap out of him.

Drummer appears. “Just the one… Oh.”

A loud farting sound, the man’s face reddens, he groans then there’s a plop.

“Please, man.”

“Do we let him finish, or kill him now?”

“Please,” the man begs again. “Not like this.”

“Dead’s dead,” says my dad, raising his gun, and shooting him in the head. “What?” He turns at my snort. “I did him a favour. He was clearly constipated. Now that’s one less worry he has.”

“No,” I reply drily. “I think you cured that.”

It seems death has loosened his bowels, and it’s past time for me to leave. The stench is overpowering.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Olivia…

I know Eli won’t betray the club whatever they did. It’s our family, by blood and friendship. The answer is he must have a plan. I have to hang on to that.

I’m going to get you out of here, soon.

But that’s just my hope. However much I try to keep calm and soothe the baby growing inside me, I’m scared, terrified that however Eli thinks this is going to play out, there’s a chance it could go wrong and not the way he expects.

Eli wasn’t made VP because of his relationship to Drummer, he got it on his own merits. Old ladies aren’t involved in club business, but we’ve got ears and eyes. So many times I’ve seen Eli being slapped on the back and congratulated as the club had gotten out of a fix, or made money, due to him being on the ball and coming up with ideas.

But will his lack of confidence in himself lately, the reason behind him leaving the club, make him overcautious? Will he pull back when he should move on? Will he second-guess himself?

Have faith in your man.

I would have. If he were the Eli I’ve known all my life, not the one I’ve lived with these past months.

The house is silent except for the slight whirr of the air conditioning, and creaks as the wood expands or contracts. Has everyone gone? Could I escape on my own?

I could try.

Going to the door, I rattle the knob. It’s locked, of course. I’d hoped my guard would have left with Archangel and Eli, but no such luck. The door opens.

“What do you want?”

“Bathroom,” I tell him.

“Again?”

I glare at him. “You try having a baby use your bladder as a trampoline. Yes, I do need the bathroom, again.”

He shakes his head, but steps back and gestures in the direction I now know. “Don’t try anything,” he warns.

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